Class 1A
1A EAST
D2-#4 Jackson Heights (4-4) at D1-#1 Olpe (8-0) – Olpe
The Eagles and Cobras met earlier this season in Week 6 with Olpe claiming a 35-0 at Jackson Heights. The Eagles have won their contests by an average margin of 47 points a game and have posted four straight shutouts. The last time an opponent scored on Olpe was in September. The Jackson Heights stopped a three-game losing streak with last week’s first-round win over Central Heights, 26-0. The Cobras’ four losses have come against strong competition including Centralia, Valley Heights, Jefferson Co. North, and Olpe.
D1-#7 Northeast-Arma (1-5) at D1-#3 Uniontown (5-4) – Uniontown
Valley Heights was among the top teams in Class 1A when they forfeited the remainder of their season due to a the COVID situation at the school. As a result, Northeast-Arma, which was otherwise winless on the season, advanced with an official playoff victory for the first time since 1982. The Vikings went through a lengthy mid-season quarantine that wiped out three weeks out of their season, including their game against Uniontown. The two Three Rivers League rivals were supposed to play back in Week 6. Uniontown has relied on the running game this season, averaging 253 yards on the ground with the likes of Drew Perry and Treden Buckman. Perry rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns on 32 attempts in last week’s win over Troy, while Buckman added 24 carries for 188 yards and three more scores.
D2-#5 Wabaunsee (4-5) at D2-#1 Centralia (7-1) – Centralia
Wabaunsee will make the trip to Centralia for the second time in three weeks. Centralia won in the season finale, 60-20 and had a first-round bye a week ago. After their season-opening loss to Rossville, the Panthers have allowed only 8 points a game. Wabaunsee have averaged 310 yards against their opponents this season, and have heavily relied on the passing game. Quarterback Cade Oliver added three more touchdown passes in last week’s 62-18 win over Pleasanton.
D2-#3 Jefferson Co. North (7-2) at D1-#2 Lyndon (7-2) – Lyndon
Two 7-2 teams meet up in Lyndon in a battle of league champions. Jefferson County North, only allowing 16 points a contest, goes up against a high-octane Lyndon Tiger offense that averages 43 points per game. Both teams beat Horton and Northern Heights, and lost to second-ranked Centralia. Luke Detwelier leads the Tiger offense with 784 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. Meanwhile, Jefferson Co. North is led by Landon Gutschenritter’s 1,131 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. Gutschenritter rushed for 221 yards and six scores in last week’s 72-0 win over Northern Heights.
1A WEST
D3-#5 Ell-Saline (4-5) at D3-#1 Smith Center (7-1) – Smith Center
Third-ranked Smith Center lost, 16-14, at rival Norton in Week 1 and has won seven straight contests. Smith Center had a Week 9 bye after it won its district, including a 46-13 home victory versus Ell-Saline. Smith Center has not lost at Hubbard Stadium since Week 3 of 2018 to rival Phillipsburg. Smith Center has not lost a home playoff game since the ’15 sub-state title game to Phillipsburg. The Redmen have their usual run-heavy offense and dominant defense. The Redmen have allowed just 10.6 points per game with longtime defensive coordinator Brock Hutchinson. Smith Center has rushed for 256 yards and passed for 39 yards a contest. Sophomore Jake Sasse leads with 138 carries for 732 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Griffin Kugler, the Redmen’s single season and career leader in receiving touchdowns, has 16 catches for 284 yards and six scores. Sophomore Bentley Montgomery has 57 tackles, while senior Nathan Hrabe and Sasse pace with seven TFLs.
D3-#3 Oakley (7-2) at D4-#2 Sedgwick (8-1) – Oakley
The Mid-Continent League’s Oakley has enjoyed its much-publicized turnaround under fourth-year coach Jeff Hennick. The Plainsmen had seven combined victories in the last three years. The Plainsmen have an average score of 33.1-13.7. Sedgwick is at 46.4-12.9. Oakley is expected to have two starters back as it makes a 249-mile trip southeast.
Sedgwick has long enjoyed its high-flying passing offense and rolling over regular season opponents but has struggled some in the playoffs. Sedgwick has improved defensively in the last couple of years. Last season, the Cardinals were 9-1 and were top-two in 1A in scoring offense (41.8 ppg) and scoring defense (8.0 ppa). This year, many of the key figures on both sides returned. Oakley brought back quarterback Eric Cain and running back Ethan Abell, while Sedgwick has quarterback Lance Hoffsommer and receiver Henry Burns. Hoffsommer has ranked among the state’s leading passers the last two seasons, and Burns has cleared 1,000 receiving yards. Hoffsommer has thrown for more than 1,900 yards and 20-plus scores.
Oakley has played a more challenging schedule and has wins against TMP (7-2) and Plainville (5-4). Sedgwick lost, 41-35, to Conway Springs for the district championship. Conway Springs was up 41-21 with 9:08 left and rushed for more than 530 yards. Oakley has one of Kansas’ leading tailbacks with Abell. He has 155 carries for 1,440 yards and 21 scores. Oakley has committed just six turnovers all year. Sedgwick has never made it past the state quarterfinals, though has five trips, most recently in ’12, ’13, ’18 and ’19. Sedgwick lost to the MCL’s Smith Center in ’15, ’18 and ’19 in the playoffs. This game will likely come down to Sedgwick’s defense against Oakley’s running game.
D3-#4 Plainville (5-4) at D4-#1 Conway Springs (7-1) – Conway Springs
Fourth-ranked Conway Springs earned a first-round bye after it won its district title. Plainville beat Sublette, 58-0, and led 52-0 after three quarters. Conway Springs has rushed for 299 yards and passed for 73 yards a contest. Senior Heath Hilger has passed for 565 yards with a 10/2 TD/INT ratio. He has rushed 62 times for 645 yards and 10 scores. Senior Jonathan Wright has 54 carries for 799 yards and 14 TDs. Plainville sustained heavy graduation losses, notably with quarterback Jordan Finnesy and RB/LB Jared Casey, but coach Grant Stephenson has delivered at least a .500 season. Plainville has some nice players, notably sophomore running back Kyle Werner, junior Ben Hansen and seniors Peyton Rathbun and Jonah Smith. Werner has 114 carries for 819 yards and 10 scores. Hansen has a team-high 67 tackles, while Rathbun leads with nine TFLs. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Smith has delivered seven TFLs.
D4-#3 Whitewater-Remington (4-5) at D3-#2 Inman (7-2) – Inman
Inman moved into the rankings at No. 5 this week. The Teutons beat Stanton County, 61-0, in Week 9. The Teutons held Stanton County to negative total yards. Inman has enjoyed its best season since a 10-1 season in eight-man in ’90-91. Inman reached the quarterfinals last fall, the program’s best showing in 25 years. The Teutons rolled over Remington, 54-13, in Week 7. In that win, Inman outgained Remington, 419-229. Harrison Brunk enjoyed a big game with a 56-yard TD run and a 54-yard punt return for a score. Jace Doerksen completed 8 of 12 passes for 140 yards and three scores. Overall, Doerksen has completed 76 of 114 passes for 1,331 yards with 17 TDs against four interceptions. Kendryn Blank leads with 61 carries for 446 yards and five scores, and Derick Johnson has six receiving scores. Kyler Konrade paces with 98 tackles.
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